Hypocritical Encouragement From the Government?

On September 30th of this year, FEMA asked local communities to prepare for disasters as a practice. In fact, here is what their press release say;
"Today, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) encourages individuals, families, workplaces, schools and organizations across the nation to take part in America’s PrepareAthon!, a national day of action that will take place September 30. America’s PrepareAthon! is a community-based campaign to increase emergency preparedness and resilience through participation in hazard-specific drills, group discussions and exercises every fall and spring. To register, individuals and organizations can visit www.ready.gov/prepare."

So, why is this a bit hypocritical in my opinion? Well, how would we possibly expect to prepare using FEMA's recommendations when they not only forgot to include important items on their "disaster readiness kit", but when security and preparation incompetency hit the White House recently? Not sure what I'm referencing? Here's a great article, via The Wall Street Journal, showcasing issues of security flaws within our current system: http://online.wsj.com/articles/incompetence-hits-home-1412194748

My point is, we can't depend on the government for 100% of our safety as citizens. It has to be a collaborative experience because humans make mistakes and even put together PSA documents containing content oversights! While I doubt the hypocritical recommendations were deliberate, they weren't utilized by the same people telling us to be prepared for emergencies and disasters. Do this mean we throw everything to the wind and buy into the media hype that we, as a country, aren't generally safe? Not at all. We are better protected now than we were on 09/10/2001. This said, if a recommended disaster kit says to pack two weeks of canned food- do so, just make sure you include a manual can opener (yes, FEMA forgot to include one on its list).

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Website Design & Marketing

Website branding can be a tricky thing. Customers want stable content but the design should be current. While checking out the websites of your competitors is a great idea, copying them is not. You should distinguish your company as an industry leader- not a follower. While HireIME.com is going to undergoing some changes during this month, I wanted to share the top things to consider when rebranding and redesign your website from a marketing perspective.

1. Know your target audience and content requirements before selecting a design. If you are a technical company with a lot of content then consider white papers to prove your point, and share your data, without clogging up the real estate of your site.

2. Discuss ownership, budget, timeline, and scope of work with your design team. Make sure you understand the amount of technical hours required to translate a spec design into a live action design. Also, ask if you will have access to the back-end of the website and if additional charges will be implemented.

3. Figure out if your spec out is original. If your designer is using a WordPress website or anything else that is template-based, this means someone else has your website design- even if you change the colors or font. This is not OK for showing how innovative and original your company is. Make sure the design spec is 100% original by having this stated in writing.

4. Make sure you provide all edits to the return spec or soft-launch to the design team before coding. The actual coding of an original website is tedious. Changing the size of font on one sentence can be a billable hour so ensure you get as many edits in to the designer post launch date.

5. Too many clickable options. From a consumer perspective, this is a major mistake. Too many tabs, too many links- too much. Clients want simple directions and clear service options. Don't make people dig to find information. Why? Because they won't, they will move on.

6. No call to action on the front page. I could never understand why one would have a website without a call to action on the front page. Have your clients contact you ASAP, or at least make it easy for them to do so after they finish exploring the website. They could always revisit the main page, but they will not if there is no call to action. So, put a contact form or incentive-based offer right smack in the front of your website.

7. Interactive options. Live chat apps, online scheduling, online uploads for RFP requests- these are all pretty standard elements of today's websites. The same goes for video tutorials or company biographies. If you are missing these elements, you are already behind your competition no matter how clean or nice your website is.

I hope this information helps you create or redesign your website.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Talk Yourself Out of Sales

Do you know that you can talk yourself out of sales? Yes, this is very possible. Some people thing they’re being charming when, in reality, their “charm” is helping them become further and further separated from a sale. So, how do you talk yourself out of a sale?

First, don’t wear sunglasses when meeting something new. I don’t care if you meet him or her in the daylight, take off the glasses and look them in them in the eye. If you are wearing sunglasses from someone first meets you, they will never trust you on an unconscious level.

You also need to understand that perception is reality. If you look well-kept, people will know you take pride in yourself and likely take pride in your work. If you leave the house looking like a slob…. Well, you know where I am going with this.

You easily share your problems. Let’s say you click right away with a new client. Great! Then you start telling him or her about your problems at home, how your kids misbehave, you share your bra size, your man troubles, etc. Yep, you’re talking yourself out of a sale and earning yourself a rep as potentially unreliable and unable to keep trade secrets. Be kind, be cordial, be impersonal!

These are just a few pointers when it comes to steering clear of losing a sale. Do you have some pointers for me? Please share them in the comment section below.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

Business Manners

There are some pet peeves that I have to address. I have conducted business for 20+ years. With the advancements of technology I have to say that business owners are growing ruder and ruder. I hate having a conversation with someone who is busy checking their phone. How could he or she be folly engaged when they are updating Twitter, Facebook or texting? I'm not alone, either. I have heard horror stories of how customers refused to sign with this or that company because business owners are rude and don't even know when they are breaking protocol- or so it seems.

I've complied a list of my top business manners (or lack there of) pet peeves. If you're doing something on this list- STOP!

#1. You're always on your cell phone. If you are meeting with a client or potential client shut your phone off. There is nothing more important than earning someone's business- it is what keeps your company going. So, if you're on the phone (even in the waiting room of your client's office) it sends a message that they are not as important as playing Angry Birds or pitching your fail-safe. I can promise you customers will love it when you shut the phone down and give them your full attention.

#2. Multi-tasking. I'm not sure who said this was a good thing. It is not. Multi-tasking means you can do many things at a mediocre level. You want to be great. If you're in a meeting about a budget, remain in the meeting about the budget. Don't start writing down notes about your next meeting and concerns you want to address. Be present. Be in the moment.

#3. Learn from past mistakes. We all make them. Don't be a repeat offender. I knew a lady once who would always spend a thousand dollars on Internet marketing every quarter. And every year she would complain how her four thousand dollars is wasted and there is no ROI in sight. The truth is that four thousand dollars are year for Internet marketing is a deal. Either she was using the wrong company on a repeat basis or she wasn't spending the money in the right places- maybe even not spending enough money. The point is learn from your mistakes and adjust accordingly.

I can't take business owners who commit these three manner crimes. It drives me up a wall. There is so much business to be had out there. All you have to do is get off the phone, engage your customers or employees and learn from the past.

Until next time,
Twyla